Luxembourg Joins EU Nations by Legalizing Medical Marijuana

Lawmakers in Luxembourg – the tiny European country surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany – voted unanimously to pass medical marijuana legislation. The law allows for four hospitals in the 99-square-mile country to provide medical marijuana.

Luxembourg’s medical marijuana qualifying conditions include chemotherapy-related nausea, chronic pain, and muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis, Sputnik News reports. Doctors will be able to write prescriptions for medical marijuana. Patients can fill their prescriptions at the four hospitals that become approved.

Lydia Mutsch, the Luxembourg Health Minister, said, “I am pleased that the House has agreed with the bill to legalize access to cannabis for medical purposes. The medical use of cannabis is an important step in our efforts to reduce the pain and suffering of some patients, where usual treatments do not allow it.”

Dr. Jean Colombera, of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, says that the program is too restrictive. He said, “the impression it will only be used for people whose illnesses are too advanced. For me, it should be used well before they reach this stage. Cannabis medicines can be used to treat a far larger group of illnesses, for example, if you have problems sleeping or depression or pain.”